Push-button electric switch.



H. B. GRABAU.

PUSH BUTTON ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1911.

1,051,219, Patented Jan.21, 1913.

13 9 I; i. r -M 8 22 H [9 2/ units a. cameo, or New YORK, N. a. j

PU$H-BUTTON ELECTRIC SWITCH.

- I Specification of matters Patent. Application tiled February ea,1911. Serial No. 610,347.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Hans E. Gimme, a citizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State ofNew York,

have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Push-Button.Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

It has been my purpose in the present invention to make in compact andconvenient form an electric switch operated by a single push button. Thestructure is such that when the electric circuit is made a depression ofthe push button will operate the switch to break the circuit and whenthe circuit is broken a depression of the push button will close thecircuit.

The novel features of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accom panying drawing.

In the drawin Figure 1 is a cross section of a device embodying myinvention and showing the parts in position when the circuit is closed,Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the pushbutton is depressed to break the circuit,

' Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view of the contact points and switch separated.

As shown in the drawin make use of a casing 1 which is preferablytubular in form and which is provided with the flanges or ears 2, 3having therein the screwholes 4 for the purpose of fastening the devicein place. This casing may be made of any suitable material, but I preferto'make it of metal and of cylindrical form having at one end thecylindrical central opening 5 to receive the push button 6. The pushbutton may be made of any suitable material, such as hard rubber orbone, and it has a cylindrical portion passing through the opening 5 andan enlarged inner base 7 fitting within the casing and serving as anabutment to limit the outward movement of the push button. The innersurface of this base at the center is provided with a depression orsocket 8 of such shape as to re ceive the upper end or head of the pin9. The pin 9 passes through a hole in the center ofa plate 19 preferablymade of metal and freely movable longitudinally of the casing, thecentral hole 11 being of suflicient-size to permit the pin to passloosely through it and to be turned laterally, as indicated in Fi 2. Thehead 12 of the pin rests on the we 1 of the'hole 11 and a coiled sprin13 hearing upon the plate 10 around its edges tends to force it backagainst the push button. Thehead of the pin 9 is therefore clampedbetween the push button and the plate, the top of the head being flatthe tendency will be to straighten the position of the pin so as to makeit extend in line with the push button as shown in Fig. 1, this'actionbeing assisted by the inclined under surface of the head of the pinbearing in the hole in the plate. This pin is preferably made of brassand has a pointed lower end 14.

Fitting within the inner open end of the casing 1 there is a socket orbase 15 preferably made of vulcanized rubber and having across its upperportion a transverse slot 16, as shown 1n Fig. 3. The lower oppositesides of this socket are cut away to receiveon one side the curvedspring contact member 17 which is held in place by the screw 18 and onthe other side the forked contact member 19. A pivot pin 20 passesthrough the socket and the side walls of the casing holding the partstogether and servin to pivotally support the switch 21 whic is made ofconducting metal. This switch member has centrally on its upper side aninverted V-shaped projection 22 and at opposite ends it has the upwardlyproiecting points 23, 24 serving as abutments for the pin 9 ashereinafter described. The pivot pin 20 passes through the central hole25 and the contact spring 17 at its curved outer end 26 bears upon theunder surface of the switch tending to hold it either open or closed.The spring 17 bears upon opposite sides of the central sharp projection27 on the under surface of the switch, bearing upon one side when theswitch is open and upon the other side when the switch is closed'andserving to securely hold it either open or closed. When the switch isclosed the-end 24 passes down between the jaws of the contact. point 19and thus the switch 21 serves as the connection between the contactpoint 17 and the contact point 19.

It will be observed that the pin 9 when in normal position, as shown inFi 1, extends down within the upper end 0 the slot 16 and fits in thatslot loosely so that it can be turned to one side or the-other along theslpt. When the switch is closed as shown in Fig. 1, the point of the pinis on the side of the point 22 next to the point 23, and therefore adepression of the push button will make the pin 9. pass down the side ofthe point 22 and turn the switch to the position shown in Fig. :2. Ifthe button is then released the pin will be brought back into theposition shown in Fig. 1, and it will therefore at that time be abovethe other side of the point 22. A second de ression of the button W111therefore make t e pin 9 engage the side of the switch which is providedwith the point 2!, and therefore the switch will be turned back intoclosed position as shown in Fig. 1. The result is that successiveoperations of the push button successively turn the current on and otf.

The structure is such that the device may be made in compact formincluded within a small cylindrical casin which may betastened in anordinary ho e bored in the wall or support where it is to be used.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, ofa single ush button therein accessible from the exterior, a plug ofinsulatingmaterial extending'into one end of the casing, contact pointson the plug and extending mto said casing, a movable switch pivoted onthe insulated plug and adapted to electrically connect said contactpoints, said switch having electrical connection with one of said pointsat all times, an extension loosely connected to said push button adaptedto engage said switch to turn it into or out of closed position, meansfor ieldingly holding said extension and push utton in normal operativeposition, and the switch bein so constructed that the point ofconnection between said extension and switch will be alternately shiftedto alternately open or close said switch at successive depressions.

2. In a switch of the class described, the combination with a casing, ofa single push button therein accessible from the exterior,

- means yieldingly supporting said push button, terminals and contactpoints within said casin including a spring contact finger integra withone of the terminals, a movable switch plate adapted to electricallyconnect the sai contact points, said switch plate having rmanentelectrical connection with said spring contact finger, and means looselyconnected with the push button and operated by the depression of saidpush button for mo said switch plate into closed or open positionsuccessively.

3. In a switch of the class described, the combination with a casing, ofa single push button projecting to the exterior of said casing at oneend and rovided with an enlarged base limiting t e outward movement ofthe push button, a body of insulating materia fitting in the other endof said casing, switch terminals mounted on said insulating body, aswitch plate, means operated by the depression of said push button formoving said switch plate to closed and open position successivel andresilient means seatin on said insu ating body for normally andyieldingly maintaining said push button in projected position.

4. The combination with a tubularcasing, of a push button projectingthrough one end of said casing and provided with an enlar inner base, aplug of insulating materlal extendin into the other end of the casing, amova le plate fitting within said casing against the inner surface ofsaid base and provided with =a central hole, a sin loorly lpassingthrough said hole provi ed wit a ead having a flat top and rounded sidesfittin against the walls of said hole, and a coil spr' within saidcasing seated on said plug and aring outwardly against said late.

5. e combination with a tubular casing, of a push button projectingthrough one end of said casi and provided with an enlar ed inner se, amovable plate fitting wit in said casin against the inner surfaceof'said base ant? provided with a central hole, a pin loosely passingthrough said hole provided with a head having a flat top and roundedsides fitting said hole, and a colled spring within said casing bearingoutwardly against said plate, an insulating plug in sald casing belowsaid spring having slot across its top in which said pin wor contactpoints at opposite ends of said slot, and a switch member pivoted insaid slot and adapted to be turned by said pin to open or closedposition.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tubularsin of an insulat' plug at one end provi ed with a slot in its innerend, contact points extending into said slot at opposite ends, a pivotedswitch member mounted in said slot adapted to connect and disconnectsaid contact points, and 'elding means extending down through an guidedby said slot for alternatel turning said switch into open or closedposition. 1

against the walls of 7. In a device of the classdescribed, the

till

site sides of the pivot separated by an upwardly projecting wedge shapedpoint, contact points adapted to be engaged by said member when turnedin one position, and a yielding loosely supported pin centrally abovesaid member extending into said slot adapted to be moved longitudinallyto turn said switch.

8. In aswitch of the class described, the combination with a casing, ofa single push button fitting in one end of the caslng, said push buttonnormall protruding from the casing at one end, a body of insulatingmaterial fitting in the other end of the casing, said insulating bodyhavin a slot therein, means bearin on the insu ating body and yieldinglyho ding said push button in normal protruding position, terminals on theinsulating bod a switch member ivoted in the slot wit in the insulatingbod and means operatively connected with the push button forsuccessively opening and closing the switch upon successive depressionsof the button.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubularcasing, a single push button fitting in one end of the casing, a plug ofinsulating material fitting in the other end of the casing, said plughaving a transverse slot therein, terminals secured to opposite sides ofthe plug and extending into the slot, a switch member pivoted in theslot within the plug, a pin loosely connected to the push buttonextending down into the slot and guided thereby, said pin adapted toengage the switch member to successively open and close the switch uponsuccessive operations of the button and means for holding the pin inengagement with the push button.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubularcasing, a single push button fitting in one end of the casing, a plug ofinsulating material fitting in the other end of the casing, said plughaving a transverse slot therein, a forked contact member secured to oneside of the plug and extending into said slot, a spring contact membersecured to the plug opposite said forked contact and extending into theslot, :1 switch member'pivoted in the slot within the plug and at alltimes in engagement with the spring contact member and means operativelyconnected to the push button extending down into the slot and guidedthereby to engage the switch member to open and close the latter uponsuccessive operations of the button.

11. In a switchin mechanism of the class described, the comblnation of atubular casing having a fiange intermediate its ends, a single pushbutton provided with an enlarged base fitting in one end of the casing.a plug of insulating material fitting in the other end of the casing,said plug having a transverse slot therein, a forked contact membersecured to one side of the plug and extending into said slot, a springcontact member secured to the plug opposite said forked contact andextending into the slot, a switch member pivoted in the slot within theplug andat all times in engagement with the spring contact member, a pinloosely connected to the base of the push button extending down into theslot and guided by the latter, said pin adapted to engage and oscillatethe switch member to successively open and close the latter uponsuccessive operations of the button and a resilient member seated on theplug to return the push button and pin to normal position aftersuccessive depressions of the button.

12. ][n a switch of the class described the combination of a tubularcasing of uni orm internal diameter, a push button projecting throughone end of said casing and provided with an enlarged inner basesubstantially the diameter of the interior of the casing, a plug ofinsulating material formed to fit snugly int-o the other end of saidtubular casing, said plug having a transverse slot therein, a pinconnected to move said push button, the end of said pin moving in saidslot and guided thereby, switch contacts mounted on the plug andextending into the slot, a bridging member pivoted in the slot andadapted to be oscillated by said pin upon successive depressions of thepush button to alternately open and close the switch.

13. in a switch of the class described, the combination with a tubularcasing, of a push button projecting through one end of said casing andprovided with a central recess, a body of insulating material extendinginto the other end of sald tubular casing and having a transverse slottherein, a pin having the head thereof movably seated in the recess inthe push button, and the shank thereof longitudinally movable in theslot in said insulatin body, a yieldable member bearing against t elower side of the head of said pin and having a hole therein throughwhich said? shank of the pin passes, switch terminalsfextending into theslot in said insulating body, and a bridging. member pivotally mountedin the slot in said insulating body and adapted to be engaged andoscillated by the shank of said pin upon successive depressions of thepush button to alternately open and close the switch.

14. In a switch of the class described, the combination with a tubularcasing of uniform internal and external diameter, of a single pushbutton therein and normally projecting through one end of said casing,the inner end of said push button being of substantially the diameter ofthe interior of the casing,- a body of insulating material 5 pivotefitting snugly into the other end of the ca's-g mg and having atransverse slot therein, con-. tact oints on the insulatin body andex-'-. tendln intothe slot, a mo'va le switch Elate in the slot in theinsulating Ody and adapted to electrically connect said contact .oints,'an extension loosely connected to said push button and vadapted toengage the switch plate and turn it into or out of.

